Donkeys (Equus asinus) are part of the equid family, which includes horses and zebras. The collective term for the young of these species is the same. A baby donkey is most commonly referred to as a foal, a term used from birth until the donkey reaches approximately one year of age.
Naming the Young Donkey
While “foal” is the general term for any baby donkey, specific terminology differentiates the sexes. A male baby donkey is called a “jack foal,” and a female is a “jenny foal.”
These names derive from the adult terms: an intact male is a “jack,” and a female is a “jenny” or “jennet.” After separation from the mother’s milk, typically after four to six months, the young donkey is called a “weanling.” A donkey that has passed its first birthday but has not yet reached its second is known as a “yearling.”
Characteristics of a Newborn Foal
Donkey foals are precocial, meaning they are mature and mobile immediately after birth. A healthy newborn foal will sit upright within 20 minutes of delivery, stand within one hour, and begin nursing within two hours. This rapid mobility is an adaptation that allows them to evade predators.
The birth weight of a standard donkey foal averages around 74 pounds (33.4 kg), though miniature breeds are smaller. At birth, the foal stands at roughly 60% of its eventual adult height. Newborn foals often have a woollier coat texture than adults and are recognized by their disproportionately large ears. By six months of age, the young donkey has already reached about 80% of its mature height.
Maternal Care and Weaning
The relationship between the mother, called the jenny or dam, and her foal is characterized by a strong, immediate bond. The newborn foal must receive colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk, within the first 12 hours of life to gain passive immunity. In the first few days, a foal will nurse frequently, often three to seven times every hour, demonstrating its dependence on the mother.
The jenny is highly protective of her young, and they remain in close proximity for many months. Although foals begin to nibble on solid food within weeks, the natural nursing period can be prolonged. In a managed domestic environment, professional care guidelines suggest a gradual weaning process beginning between four and six months of age, especially if the foal is eating supplemental feed. The mother initiates the gradual separation by moving away from the foal, encouraging independence.